Earthquake preparedness

For Immediate Release:
July 8 2010

Just Be Ready for Earthquakes and Other Disasters
Public Health reminds residents to pack 10 Essential Items in case of
emergencies

LOS ANGELES - The large earthquake that shook a portion of Southern
California Wednesday should serve as a reminder that disasters -- both
natural and man-made -- can strike at any time. With that in mind, the
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has tips on pre-planning
for an emergency in order to best protect your health and the health of
your family.

"California is earthquake country, and it is everyone's
responsibility to prepare," said Jonathan E. Fielding, MD, MPH,
Director of Public Health and Health Officer. "Today's quake should
be a wake-up call to all county residents to make sure that their
emergency kits are stocked and their emergency plans are up-to-date.
Preparing for disasters before they strike will help you and your family
get through many of the difficult situations that we face in Los Angeles
County, including earthquakes, fires, and bad storms."

The 10 Essential Items, as recommended by the Emergency Survival
Program in LA County's Office of Emergency Management, include:
1. Water 2. Food
3. Cash and Important Documents 4. Clothes
5. Flashlight 6.
First Aid Kit
7. Medicine 8.
Radio
9. Toiletries 10.
Tools

These essential items will help ensure that people have access to basic
essentials when other resources may not be available during an
emergency. It is also vital that families put together a Communications
Plan, such as a pre-planned place to meet and a designated out-of-state
contact, in case family members are separated or at work or school when
a disaster strikes.

For more information on earthquake and disaster readiness, call (866)
999-5228 or the LA County Information Line at 2-1-1. Bilingual staff is
available Monday - Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Additional
information can be found on the Just Be Ready: Prepare Together webpage
at http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov.

The Department of Public Health is committed to protecting and
improving the health of the nearly 10 million residents of Los Angeles
County. Through a variety of programs, community partnerships and
services, Public Health oversees environmental health, disease control,
and community and family health. Public Health comprises more than 4,000
employees and has an annual budget exceeding $750 million. To learn more
about Public Health and the work we do, please visit
http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov, visit our YouTube channel at
http://www.youtube.com/lapublichealth, or follow us on Twitter:
@LAPublicHealth.
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